Circumcision and Genital Dermatoses

Abstract

Context: It is well recognized that the presence of a foreskin predisposes to penile carcinoma and sexually transmitted infections. We have investigated the relationship between the presence or absence of the foreskin and penile dermatoses. Objective: To determine whether there is an association between circumcision and penile dermatoses. Design: A retrospective case control study of patients attending the department of dermatology with genital skin conditions. Subjects: The study population consisted of 357 male patients referred for diagnosis and management of genital skin disease. The control population consisted of 305 male patients without genital skin disease attending the general dermatology clinics over a 4-month period. Main Outcome Measures: The relationship between circumcision and the presence or absence of skin disease involving the penis was investigated. The rate of circumcision in the general male dermatology population was determined. Results: The most common diagnoses were psoriasis (n = 94), penile infections (n = 58), lichen sclerosus

Anogenital Dermatitis in Patients Referred for Patch Testing

“…The skin overlying the penis is believed to facilitate the absorption of allergens and, in turn, to facilitate the development of dermatoses and ACD, 22,23 and there is some evidence that circumcision decreases the risk of inflammatory dermatoses. 24 Our results showed no statistically significant difference in the percentage of male and female patients referred for patch testing who had anogenital involvement only. Final diagnosis differed only for the category of other dermatoses, which was statistically more common in female patients, likely because of women with vulvodynia, for which there is no direct male correlate (red scrotal syndrome is less common than vulvodynia).…”

Frequency and spectrum of Malassezia yeasts in the area of the prepuce and glans penis

“…The frequency and density are probably also in¯uenced by the sampling technique. Circumcision in¯uences the kind and frequency of genital dermatoses [31]. The incidence of candidal penis carriage and symptomatic balanitis is higher in uncircumcised men [4].…”

Why circumcision is a biomedical imperative for the 21stcentury

“…Uncircumcised males (only) can get Zoon balanitis, bowenoid papulosis, and non-specific balanoposthitis. (87) Zoon balanitis is likely caused by mycobacterium smegmatis. (86) Typical symptoms are erythrema (in 100%), swelling (in 91%), discharge (in 73%), dysuria (in 13%), bleeding (in 2%) and ulceration (in 1%).…”